So I’m pregnant with my second baby due this fall, with my first daughter I didn’t breastfeed due to personal preference, but I think maybe I should try with my next I mean if I’m a milk goddess who is able to produce milk for my baby why not? But my question is, does it really hurt your first-month breastfeeding? Like how was your first feed? How long did it take you to adjust? I’m scared what if it hurts. I’ve only heard from others that it is excruciating & your nips bleed & get dry/crack like I’m freaking out just thinking about it, please help …
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Yeah it hurts when the baby has an incorrect latch. Done properly its a relief to take the pressure out!
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The first month or so can be rough, but it passes.
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After you first have the baby you will have the contractions when you breast feed and not going to lie it’s very painful.
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I didn’t hurt.
My baby had a great latch from the first skin to skin.
We’ve had little issues with supply, and lots of cluster feeding.
I got sore a couple times, and I felt mentally drained a lot.
But we’re now a year into and it’s the best bond I could ever imagine.
The first few days are very painful especially because it causes your uterus to contract more. Ugh
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If it hurts the baby might have tongue tie. The first week of breast feeding it was so painful and I wanted to give up. When we went to the 48 hour checkup for the baby the doctor said she was tongue tie. Once it was clipped it felt so much better and it never hurt again.
You don’t produce a lot of Milk at first you can try nursing if it doesn’t work you can try pumping! I didn’t nurse at all and went straight to pumping and I just kept pumping every few hours and build a nice stash and it went well, but it is time consuming and took a lot of energy out of me. If all doesn’t work, you can totally do formula again! There’s no harm in trying and it’s what works best for you two !
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I’m so glad I chose not to do this with mine.
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Www.kellymom.com was my bible. Know we are women and our bodies are made to do this but its learned by you and getting to know baby. First couple months are difficult until milk is more regulated but so so worth it
My first was easy peasy!! My second i had excruciating pain for a week while breastfeeding and then one day it just stopped my doctor didnt know why. But if u can nurse its easier than getting up and making a bottle especially in the middle of the night and saves u lots of money on formula. And u give baby a good immune system with breastmilk they say ! But give it a try!
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it’ve been hard the first 5days for me, she had hard time to latch, we were both learning how to breastfeed, it was hard but we’ve got through! I’ve been breastfeeding for one year now 
It hurts and it takes at least a month to get used too. It does get easier. Not everyone gets cracked or bleeding nipples.
I’m sorry you’re scared. It’s a big responsibility, knowing your baby’s sustenance is coming directly from you. It’s also beautiful, exhausting and exhilarating! You can do it! The most important thing is the latch. If your baby is on the breast, it shouldn’t hurt. You may get sore for a little while but that’s normal. It takes lots of practice and patience- you’ll have time for both. Be good to yourself and believe you can do it. Everything else will fall into place. Best of luck!
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It hurts especially when they don’t latch properly. It’s not easy at first for some. You could always pump. My kids had a hard time latching and I had a hard time but I pumped. There’s soo many good benefits from brest milk.
The first month or so it does hurt because the baby is learning and your uterus is shrieking back down to size at every feeding
If its latched incorrectly yesss it will hurt like a B!.. Theres creams you can get that will help with the cracking… Keep em clean and change your breast pads regularly that will help… Also theres these like silicone guards you can get they will really help when the baby starts teething… Dont let yourself get engorged … And use the warm compresses…
The first month was rough and its definitely exhausting and more time consuming but I’ve been ebf for 6months now and its easy now and I haven’t had cracked or even sore nipples since he was like 3 weeks old. I wanted to give up plenty of times the first month maybe a little longer cuz I was so tired at the time but im so happy I didn’t stop. I love it.
it can be painful good benefits you can feel uterous contracting you heal faster I recommend it highly no getting up making bottles
It only hurts the first week or so b/c it contracts the uterous but this is good it helps you get back to prebaby weight faster. My nipples almost never get damaged that would mean that the baby is not laching properly and should talk to consultant
I’m not going to lie. It hurts at first. But doesn’t last that long. I’ve bottle-fed, breastfed & pumped. By far breastfeeding was easiest. It was difficult at first but once baby & I got a hang of it it was easy. Never had to wake up to make bottles, or warm up milk. No worrying if I had enough formula to last until payday or dragging kids out for formula. It’s always ready no matter where I was. Plus the feeling that she was growing because of food I provided was great.
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I guess it depends on your pain threshold. The latch is bearable. Unfortunately I haven’t had a baby that would stay latched, so I’ve had to exclusively pump. For dry cracked nipples there is a safe cream from lanolin just for that. I’m 6w post partum now and exclusively pumping for the second time in my life and it is hard. I wish baby would latch so I wouldn’t have so many dishes, but I’ve got a fairly decent system. If you’re worried about supply main thing is to stay hydrated. After that there are lactation cookies and brownies and recipes for such things as the active ingredients are usually flax seed, brewers yeast, and steel oats. I also bought some washable breast pads from Amazon. They are great as i feel like the disposable ones stick to my nipples. Just keep your nipples dry afterward as thrush can become a problem. Both bottle fed and breastfed babies can get thrush (yeast infection in the mouth) and it can be prevented by sanitizing and keeping breasts dry and clean after use.
Mine were sore with my first child for about a week or two, didn’t hurt bad enough to quit. Continued till she was 18 months
The first week is tough but o used lanolin super often and that helped tons. With my second I didn’t have any issues at all. Each body is different and so is each experience.
Breastfeeding helps your uterus shrink back to normal, so cramping last for the 1st few days or so, but will pass. It’s recommended to also toughen up your nipples and there’s cream you can buy to help w cracking. I know it might seem scary or painful at 1st, but it’s best for your baby. Good luck
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I had no issues at all, except for the uterus cramping during the first week. Baby gained weight fast and my doctor was very happy to see a 1 month old chunky baby. I breastfed and pumped (work) for 1 solid year.
At 1st painful! Get lanolin cream, get ur bras ready. U will nurse more regularly to really get ur supply going so dont get discouraged if barley anything comes out the 1st couple times… they will also put that baby on the boob within the 1st hour or so if theres no complications. Good luck!! 
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I breastfed my two kids . When they were babies . Honestly I heard many horror stories aswell , but from my experience it didnt hurt at all . I didnt get bleeding nipples , but they did crack so I got some lotion for that .
The most painful part is the engorgement when your milk comes in . I did do the pumping for a while but so much more time consuming . My son was a premie and I had a 1 year old at home so I couldnt be at the hospital for every feed .
It can be painful yes.
Lanolin is a godsend. And making sure you have a good latch.
There’s also the option to exclusively pump too.
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Breastfeeding will never be as painful as labor 
Hurts the first few times and after awhile it settles. If you do it right. It shouldn’t hurt after that! Cracked, bleeding ect nipples happen but you have to remember not all mummas have the same issues and you could be lucky to go through it without any issues.
Get the nipple cream, you’ll be good!
Your boobs pretty much get used to it after 2 weeks it’s all about getting a good latch so ask if they have a lactation person you can talk to they are super helpful they brought in a few things to help me and put my mind at ease
It hurts if the latch isn’t right. Make sure you see a lactation consultant in the hospital right away. Make sure they check for lip and tongue ties. It does not hurt if you can get a good latch everytime. If it hurts, something is not right. Unlatch and re latch.
I tried and it and didn’t like it. My poor baby lost a pound. I quit after six days. Formula is just as good as breastmilk and I’ll never risk starving my baby again.
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It wasn’t painful at all just had to get used to it. The only thing that hurt was the cramping from it but it’s a good thing!
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If any of that happens your baby needs to be evaluated for ties! Breastfeeding in the beginning can be uncomfortable and yes a bit painful. BUT if it continues for more then I’d say 2 week’s there is definitely something else going on!
Currently breastfeeding my third. It definitely isn’t easy especially at first and it can be painful the first week or two for your nipples as well as cramping as it shrinks your uterus. The nipple pain does go away as long as the baby latches correctly. I 
never had dry,cracked or bleeding nipples. Good luck with whatever you decide
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It didn’t hurt me with either of my babies! Nursing is an awesome bonding experience!
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It’s only hurts for the first few days as it’s something that your not use to, I’ve breast feed 4 babies until they were 2 yrs old. If baby latches correctly it shouldn’t hurt, I’ve experienced dry cracked and bleeding nipples unfortunately and I so wanted to give up feeding but stuck it out there’s cream and nipple shields to help… Goodluck and all the best !
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Its painful at first trying to get the baby to latch on good. But after that ur nips will be sore for a while but it will eventually go away. N then its not bad. Until they get teeth and u pray to God they dont bite ur nip off lol enjoy breastfeeding. It creates a bond with your baby. A strong bond that ur baby will know you will provide comfort and care.
Honestly just make sure you get the lanolin cream for your nipples and keep them buttered with hydrating nipple cream
The first week my nipples were sore and lanolin definitely helped! After that I haven’t had any issues (: I’ve never had dry, cracked or bleeding nipples. Don’t let that discourage you! It doesn’t hurt to try! 
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Everyone is different. I was able to for 6 months with my first but only a month or less with my 2nd and 3rd. I would rather nurse but if doesn’t work out then that’s what it is
I didn’t have any pain at all. Just really educate yourself on how to properly get a deep latch.
Get it mama! 
GET LANOLIN CREAM and use it right away! You got this! You need support support support ! Stay positive you got this !
It is painful. If baby doesn’t latch correcrly, you will get cracker and bleeding nipples. Let the sisters in maternity ward teach you to help baby latch correctly. It really is painful if baby doesn’t latch correctly. For 6 weeks you just feed your baby. Your breast become so hard and so full, just touching them wants to make you scream, but nothing a warm shower cannot fix. It is a mindset, you either push through and do it, or you don’t.
After 6 weeks, it is the best thing ever. The bond is incredible, you always have milk, no bottles to wash or to pack in diaper bag, it becomes 2nd nature and so easy
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It is the most amazing thing you can do for your baby! It is always at least worth trying! It’s not as bad as everyone says! Buy lots and lots of nipple cream lol. If your baby is latching correctly it should not hurt!! Talk with the lactation consultant at the hospital after you have the baby and they will help you. Don’t let other people scare you out of it! Good luck!
About a month before delivery, start toughened your nippers along with applying lotion daily. then continuing with lotion throughout time of nursing. It hurts if you have not adequately hydrated yourself. So drink drink drink. wash off after nursing & apply lotion. You will do fine.
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If the baby latches well it doesn’t hurt but they sell nipple shields and cream. My first had me bleeding and in pain, my 2nd latched right away, no problem.
Prepare your nipples for nursing while pregnant with the lanolin cream. Massage and tug on them to toughen them up.
I nursed both of my babies. Both for around 10 months. I never had pain of any sort. It shouldn’t hurt if they are latched properly. I also never had any nipple cracking or bleeding.
Mine hurt the first day slightly then whenever he latched bad. It’s really not that bad. I never even used nipple cream either
Mine never hurt … dry crack or bleed… it was natural… first 6 months I did …
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With my first yes it hurt a lot. I was giving her formula and breastmilk so she had nipple confusion which made me get cracked nips. Took us about 2 months to get the hang of it with no pain. Currently have a one week old and exclusively breastfeeding and he’s a pro. The first few days were hard of course but only bc he was using me as a pacifier so i just gave him one and now we’re great!
Mine hurt for the first month, but no bleeding or getting cracked. Once you get past the pain, it’s easy. Though you can always get nipple cream or even try nipple guards.
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Get these!!! You may not need them, but if you get engorged or milk is slow to let down, these are AMAZING!!
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I breast fed both of my babies my first 8 weeks , my second 18months. Definitely have the lactation consultant help you while your in the hospital.
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Some nice nipple cream for yhr first month and a breastpump and you will be set… I found the breastpump helped tremendously on days that baba was fussy and the milk supply slows down. Good luck…
Breastfeeding came so natural for us. Latched immediately after birth and continued exclusively for 18 months while pumping everyday and building a generous stash. It really is different for everyone and there could be issues like tongue ties or not properly latched that cause pain.
Every baby and person is different. With my first I had to use Laninol cream religiously but had not one sore nip with my 2nd. I would go for it if you truly want to and even if it does hurt as first its not forever.
it hurts like hell, but everyone is different some people are really successful with it… I would try!!
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Mine never did that. I was hesitant to breast feed my 1st but its a special bond. The obly time i was ever in pain is when i went back to work n forgot my pump at home my boobs were so engorged it was the worse feeling ever. Other then that nothing someyimes it take baby a while to get it down but i loved it breast fed my se ond and still am shes 8months okd its a speical bond i love having one on one time. But to each their own plus every boob is different. But i loved it
Buy cool pads and stick them in the freezer and apply after your done pumping and feeding. These were a lifesaver for me. At first my nipples were cracking and bleeding which hurt so bad. The lactation nurse suggested them to me and they were a game changer.
I was told the more nipple that the baby takes in their mouth the better. I had no issues and no pain. I also made sure that I left some milk on my nipples after she was done. It’s amazing how breast milk cures almost everything lol.
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My experience, I was bleeding and had a blister before I even left the hospital. Before we left I told them I couldn’t do it and they put him on formula. My son really struggled with latching though.
It’s painful the first few weeks, but if you can get through that it’s the most beautiful connection in the world.
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Look up the Thompson method of breastfeeding. It was created by a doctor and is advertised as a pain-free method of breastfeeding. I haven’t delivered yet, so haven’t gotten to use it, but the community is very supportive and helpful and they have lots of well-trained admins who are appropriately educated to answer any questions you may have about breastfeeding, as well as a ton of videos to help guide you. Like I said, I haven’t gotten to use it yet, but they’ve answered several of my questions and put me much more at ease about it. They also support all choices you make, even if it doesn’t follow their recommendations, but will still support you to properly use the technique you’re applying to make it easiest for you and baby (for instance they encourage against nipple shields, but will still give you tips on how to make shields work for you). They do have a paid program, but they have a free community, as well, and that’s what I’m a part of and they still offer tons of help even if you don’t pay.
I have never had a problem nursing! No pain, no latch issues. It’s the most rewarding part of motherhood so far. 4 y/o and 9 month old.
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It does hurt on the beginning. It didn’t hurt for a month for me with 3 of mine. One of them hurt for a while but he had a tongue tie so his latch wasn’t great. If it keeps hurting after a couple weeks I’d suggest talking with the doc. nipple cream was amazing, I didn’t crack or bleed at all. It’s all preference obviously fed is best but breastfeeding is free and you don’t gotta wash bottles constantly lol I say give it a try 
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It’s only painful if you get mastitis. That usually only happens if you don’t switch sides. Switch sides every time you feed. Use cocoa butter on breasts after shower to make sure they don’t get dry. If you do get mastitis, use warm compress and try to get rid of some of milk in shower. This will help as it won’t hurt as bad. Baby will probably prefer one side or the other, you can pump on other side if needed. I only remember it happening once.
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My first son was a natural it was seamless never any issues then came my tongue tied second son and boy was it ever difficult for the first month but I stuck with it as the dr said most outgrow or learn to work with the short frenulum and just as the dr said the baby started latching more seamlessly…the only reason women develop any of the issues you listed is because of the baby not being properly latched!
With my 1st child, nursing never hurt. With my 2nd, it made my cramps worse & I did have a 2 week period of a cracked, bleeding nipple. With that being said, my own milk cured my sore nipple & we are now a month & a half shy of the 3yr mark (I only had plans to get to 2-2 & 1/2yrs, but my daughter is not ready to let go of her boobies. I weaned my son at 2 & 1/2 when i found out i was pregnant with my daughter)
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It hurt like no other for me…i stuck with it for as long as i possibly could. I feel like getting the baby the colostrum, (sp?) aka liquid gold the first 1-2 days is important, even if you don’t plan to continue with it. Good luck 
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It only hurts if you are doing it wrong!
Mine were sore from repeated contact the first week but never cracked or bled. I used lanolin cream, washed with water only, and didn’t need cotton pads in my bra since I could nurse on demand. If it were excruciating, I think there was a latch issue or other complication. Breastfeeding was soooo easy and natural, she nursed 25 months until it became a cuddle time treat and unnecessary for us. I hope you love it, but if not just do what works best for you and baby. Fed is best.
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With my daughter it hurt because she did not latch right. But my son did but I did not make enough milk for him and I found out a week after birth he was suffering malnutrition because I didn’t know I did not make enough milk for him. I’ve tried pumps but tmi my nipples are really big never found one that fit them so the pump actually my my nipples raw. No matter what you do either one is good. Maybe try it for a while it does make you cramp and that hurts but it will get better
It’s definitely painful… I think for a good 2 weeks… I used nipple cream to soothe my breasts… I don’t regret it for a second it’s way economic and my babies are big n healthy
I enjoyed it he got lazy for a while but when I started relatching him when it hurt me he relized he wasn’t gonna be left alone unless he latched properly
It won’t hurt if the baby latches properly (which he/she probably won’t at first but it’s a learning process for you both). Also, lots of lansinoh nipple cream. Apply after every feed to avoid dryness/cracking.
If you can endure child birth , you can handle breast feeding too . It really isn’t that bad - make sure you apply warm or cold compress and use ointment if you see any cracks but if you keep up with a good cleaning after the baby is done feeding and apply ointment you should be absolutely fine .
My kids are teenagers now and honestly I would love to have another child just for that bond . It’s the most precious thing you’ll ever experience.
Best of luck and give it a try you won’t regret it I promise .
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…My experience.was a nightmare, but everyone is definetly different.
With my first baby, it was excrutiating. Both sides, every little suckle was sharp pain. I saw a lactation consultant who helped me with latching and gave me good tips. But even with that the pain was awful. Lucky for my nipples i went back to work pretty soon after i had him so my milk dried up.
My second i was a stay at home mom, and the very first night of nursing i was bleeding. (Luckily i had a home birth so my midwives were on call for me) my midwife drove to my home with a little syringe so i could pump and feed him with a spoon and she also gave me a few nipple shields and i believe its call Blasto Jelly, that you put in the fridge so its ice cold when you put it on your nipples, which felt amazing (for a bit). I saw a different lactation specialist who gave me similar advice. I seemed to be doing everything right ,but with my nipples cracking and bleeding if i didn’t use a shield.
I was determined, so i used a shield until my middle baby was 6 months then i let myself slowly dry up and went full formula. And then with my 3rd i had the same pain, except i was prepared this time and just exclusivly used a shield. But on her 1 month check up they told me she wasn’t gaining any weight and then they closely monitored her. After me, using a shield and nursing her in i think it was 3 hour nursing sessions every hour for a week and her still not gaining anything i stopped nursing (which i dried up almost immediately with no pain) and strictly did formula. I learned a ton through all 3 different eperiences. Find the right type of nipple cream, i liked the lanolin free kind because it didnt hurt putting on when i was sore. The shield can be amazing but hard to ween a baby off if your just getting through a rough patch. And in the end, your babies overall health is most important. I am still incredibly jealous of all those amazing moms with amazing boobs hahah but my boobs are what they are and if it turns out to be a challenging or painful journey, do what you can to make it good not only for the baby but for you also!
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Don’t let anyone persuade you one way or the other. If you feel like you might want to, latch baby after birth and see what happens. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to make it work. I tried for 2 months and the pain never stopped and my baby had to have formula too because I didn’t make enough milk and he would’ve starved to death if I didn’t use formula. It’s a great thing to do, yes. But it’s not the end all be all. Do what you’re comfortable with. Don’t sacrifice your baby’s health or your mental health just to do it.
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Pain comes with latching issues and if baby is not on there right it will hurt. Otherwise no pain bc its natures method. Engorgement is the only other thing i can think of thats painful and if you put the baby on it makes it feel so much better. Just stick em on as often as u can at first like all the time…lol try laying down to be more relaxed with baby on your side. Try every position til you figure out whats most comfortable for you.
Educate yourself on breastfeeding…I am a nursing mom of 3 and still currently nursing my 2 year old twins…I read and talked to lactation consultants…talked to other nursing moms and have a supportive spouse…
It’s only painful if baby is not laching correctly. Ask for a nurse to double check when your in hospital so you know
When I was enforced (milk first coming in) yes it hurt to latch but was fine after about 30 seconds. We’ve been breastfeeding exclusively for almost a year (in 15 days) and I’ve never had any cracked nipples, no bleeding… I’ve had one tiny milk pore clog and that was it. Not everyone experiences the bad
My first one I had no issues, my second was a struggle with latching. I just started pumping with the second. The third one she was 10lbs the doctor in the hospital told me no point on breast feeding her that with how big she was I wouldn’t be able to to keep up I’d have to supplement with formula or breast feed around the clock. So I just opted for bottle that round for all of our sanity.
Oh it hurts! But it’s not bad. It only last for about 2-3 weeks and the bond thereafter is just beautiful I’m currently still breastfeeding my 2mo old
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It hurts when you first start and takes a few days for your milk to come in. It hurts when you get blocked milk ducts. Cracked nipples do hurt but they have cream and lotions for it. I loved nursing was so much easier then bottle feeding. You don’t need to warm it up, don’t need to worry about recalls. Only thing u really have to worry about is what you eat, and hope it doesn’t make the baby gassy or give it an upset stomach. The bond is the best thing ever and makes it so worth it.
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For me personally I didn’t have a lot of issues I know other mothers have. My little man had no problem latching and ate like a tank. I had to remind myself to eat every time he did to keep up with production. I nursed until 13 months. So we just stopped around a month ago. Looking back I don’t remember any pain (I know there was some). But in my mind it’s way less painful then giving birth. The biggest thing I ran into was when we would go out and I would have to stop to nurse or pump. I wish I would have enjoyed those times more and not viewed them as a burden. I feel an extremely strong bond with my son now and I am his go to for anything that upsets him (including me telling him no and he comes to hug me). Overall, to start it wasn’t a cake walk but for us it worked so that’s what we went with. I would definitely try it and see how it goes for you. If it works awesome, if not, there are other options. As long as baby is fed you’re doing the right thing.
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I couldn’t make enough milk for any of my babies 
Thank goodness for formula or they would have starved!!
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It hurt like a bitch and I cried and sobbed for hours when feeding. Even when I bled and cried, I had to keep feeding her. I wouldn’t take any of it back. I thought I had to have been doing it wrong so I saw a lactation consultant and she said, everything looked perfect. They get less sensitive over time when feeding so that helped. So did lots of lanolin. I truly believe it helps in so many ways and good for the babies so it was my goal. I will do it with every child after this one.
I breastfed my son for 2.5 years, the first month or so my nipples were very sore and painful at first latch but I just used tons of nipple cream and as time went on my body adjusted and it was no longer painful. I loved breastfeeding my son, it’s such a sweet bonding experience and benefits your baby so much it’s completely worth a little discomfort at first. Honestly the worst part of breastfeeding were the engorged breasts, and it is such a relief to have your baby latch when you’re engorged. If you’re away from your baby for more than a few hours make sure you remember your pump or you’ll hate life lol.
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From my experience, it does hurt right after birth because it stimulates the uterus to contract back into place. Which has its upsides as well but is ouch as it’s happening. I was pretty discouraged when I experienced pain for the first few weeks. Everywhere I read said if the latch is right, it shouldn’t hurt. I talked to nurses and lactation consultants and they said she was latched fine, so I still didn’t understand why it was so painful. I was about at my breaking point around 3 weeks or so and almost gave up, but stuck with it and the pain subsided and now we’re going on 2 years. Best way I can describe it from my experience is at first it hurts and is tender until callouses form just like getting used to working out.
Some tips I’d share are:
- Try to latch asap after birth to get a good start, but don’t be discouraged if baby (or yourself) doesn’t get the hang of it right away.
- This magical substance Organic Nipple Butter™ Breastfeeding Cream | Lanolin-free, Cruelty-free -it is all natural so you don’t have to clean it off before baby eats like you would with lanolin.
- Hot baths or showers are your best friend for engorgement.
- Drink LOTS of water and try eating oatmeal for breakfast.
- Don’t let others (or yourself for that matter) let you feel discouraged about the journey, or feel discouraged on how you choose to feed baby. It’s perfectly okay if it doesn’t work out. Hope this helps
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Truth be told… YES it hurts , BUT only if he is not latched properly, or you dont take care of your nips. Cold compresses are a must or warm showers help with milk release when your engorged. Changing of breast pads frequently is a must. I had 5 boys and breast feed them all. Trial and error.
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Yes it’ll hurt. It hurt with all three of my kids. The first few days is fine but then it starts to hurt. Best advice I ever got and the whole reason I was able to breastfeed my last two as long as I did (one year with my second and 6months with my third) is “just keep telling yourself you just have to get through today and if you want to quit tomorrow that’s fine.” After about 6 weeks it doesn’t really hurt anymore. If you can do it for 6 weeks you’ll be in the clear. But always remember it’s up to you when enough is enough and it’s not a BAD thing to stop whenever you feel like it.
I’d also like to add though that my middle son had a lip tie and my youngest son has a really strong tongue tie which is the reason it hurt so bad for me but even with my first it hurt and he didn’t have either that I know of**
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I highly recommend it for the baby, the mom, the bonding, so many benefits. It’s how we are made.
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Talk with a lactation nurse and only positive people. I breastfed both of mine a long time ago so I assume things are still done the same way. It is not automatic but the sooner you try after giving birth the better. It takes several days for milk to come in and until then they will be ok. Yes, sometimes if you get to much milk, babies is not latched on correctly it can get sore. Dont stop and be patient. It can be the best experience for you and baby. If you are not relaxed baby will stop trying so go in a room by yourself with baby. My first breastfed the first year or so and the second went from me to a sippy cup…never ever had a bottle because he would not take one. Give it time and tell the doctor you want to talk with a lactation nurse…although I am not sure when they do that.Congrats on you baby and good luck.
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I never had any bleeding or cracked nipples, I breastfed all 4 of my babies, oldest will be 16 in 2021
It depends on your body and your baby’s mouth (if there are lip or tongue ties). I bottled fed my older 2 (now teens) and decided to give breastfeeding a try with my 3rd because I actually knew someone that breastfed, so it became more doable to me. I breastfed my daughter for 18 months and my son is 6 months old and breastfed. It’s so easy and convenient and meets so many needs, not just nourishment. Someone once asked why I didn’t just give baby a bottle and I said, “why would I when I have this right here, ready all the time?”
Read, read, read until baby comes. I highly recommend following The Milk Meg here on Facebook. She’s a lactation consultant and great support for breastfeeding. She does posts all the time that are so encouraging and normalizes breastfeeding. The comments from other Moms are even more helpful. She has a website with articles on just about every breastfeeding topic. Read as much as you can. Join a breastfeeding support group here on Facebook for specific questions you might have and read the old posts to prepare yourself for the various aspects of it.
I highly recommend you look into “the flipple technique” for getting a good latch from day 1. It was amazing for me with my daughter! I had a lot of pain with my daughter until I got desperate and found a video on YouTube about that technique. Life changing! With my son, it took about a week and a half to find our rhythm and yes it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. I knew we would figure it out (and if not, calling a lactation consultant was the next move). Also, coconut oil on your nipples after every feed makes a world of difference those first few weeks!!! And it’s completely edible, so you don’t have to do anything special before nursing. Just keep a little container next to your nursing spot and slather it on. I usually let it sit for a few minutes and absorb before covering my breast back up.
It’s so odd how what is completely natural has become so foreign to people any more, but once you get going, you’ll see how awesome it can be. Just be prepared to nurse whenever and wherever baby needs it. That’s the best mindset to have
Bless you on your journey.
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